Securing means for shoes or the like



Dec. 16, RZ

SECURING MEANS FOR* SHOES OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1940 IN VENTOR.

I a/w z pa/ @v'wav Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECURING MEANS FOR SHOES OR THE LIKE Bruno Rzepa, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 28, 1940, Serial No. 372,201

6 Claims.

My present invention consists of a novel construction of shoe, oxford, boot, moccasin, slipper, or other apparel and protection unit normally worn on the human foot. This invention is directed to a novel means of securing together the separable upper portions of the shoe, oxford, or other foot protection unit in order to facilitate the securance and mounting thereof upon the foot.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a shoe, oxford or other foot protection unit having separable sections or portions which are normally provided to permit and facilitate insertion of the foot, with novel means for securing together such separable shoe unit portions, which means include a manually grippable and manually movable strap-like member to which one or more of the string ends are anchored and whereby the string securing means are relatively quickly tightened and then held in the desired tightened position.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel fastening means for separable portions of a shoe, oxford or other foot protection unit comprising the combination of a manually grippable and movable strap-like member which member may assume the form of a lever or other attachable member, the lever or member being preferably tho not necessarily pivotally connected at one end to the shoe, and one or more string elements lacedor threaded through apertures of the separable portions of the shoe and either permanently or removably connected to said lever or member and one or more fastening elements on the shoe whereby a movable portion of the lever or member is releasably anchorable in one of several desired positions to hold the string or strings in tightened position.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

This invention in a preferred form is illustrated and described in the following, it being understood that my invention may assume a variety of forms varying from the preferred forms herein described.

On the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical oxford embodying my invention and showing the fastening means in opened released position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the oxford showing the fastening means and method of my invention in tightened position to hold the oxford on the foot.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional fragmentary view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the manually grippable and movable member which in the preferred form is an arm or lever and showing one of a number of ways in which the ends of a string or strings may be attached thereto.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral I0 designates the conventional oxford having its uppers consisting of separable upper portions I I and I2 respectively which are partially defined by the normally opposed inwardly facing lateral edges Na and I2a respectively. The opposed edges Ila and I'Za usually merge at a common point or vortex I3 and form an acute angle at a point over the forward portion of the foot.

The separable upper portions of the oxford or other foot protection unit each are provided with a plurality of substantially aligned spaced apart apertures, holes, or openings I4 which are spaced a short distance outwardly from the adjacent edge of the upper shoe portions. In the preferred form illustrated, there are but six of such apertures I4 formed in each upper shoe portion but it is to be understood that the number thereof may vary as desired.

In the preferred form illustrated, three separate flexible strings I5, I6 and I! respectively are laced or threaded from one side of the shoe through the respective apertures I4 of both the upper separable shoe portions II and I2 in such a manner that the free ends of each of said strings I5, I6 and I! are threaded through one of the upper shoe portions so as to project upwardly. The length of the respectivestrings provided, which strings may vary in number, vary in length so that the three outwardly projecting ends likewise vary in length and so that when the movable anchorable means of the type herein described is placed in securing tighten d position, the respective areas of the upper shoe portions will be tightened to a substantially equal degree. It is to be understood that where a plurality of flexible strings are employed in connection with my invention (as distinguished from utilization of a single string) the lengths of the respective free ends may be varied and adjusted by the user and then attached to the manually grippable and movable anchoring means to meet any particulandesire.

Reference numeral I8 designates a metal grippable relatively stifi member which may be 24. oil: was, iiiilsis iiSi-Ei-BQQS iJLAoPS, ETC. RCH OM 2 6 ?formed partially or wholly of metal or a co bination of metal and suitable covering (covering not being shown) or may also be formed of semirigid material according to desire.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features ssIn the preferred form illustrated, the rigid thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed grippable and movable member is shown as an as limitations upon the invention, its concept arm orlever which is provided with a plurality or structural embodiment as to the whole or any of spaced apart recesses or serrations I9 opening part thereof. on the lateral edge thereof, which lateral edge is I claim as my invention: in the direction common to the direction of noro 1. In combination with a shoe or the like havmal securing movement. The spaced apart reing separable upper portions provided with subcesses l9 form a plurality of aligned teeth or prostantially aligned apertures along a j c nt inner jections which are integral with the grippable edges thereof; a lever pivoted at its lower end to element I8. The respective recesses l9 termisaid shoe and normally extending rearwardly; nate at their inner portions in relatively enlarged [5 said lever having one of its lateral edges seropenings l9a in the preferred form shown. The rated; strings la ed hro th l in p rnumbers of the openings [9:1, as well as of retures of said upper shoe portions, said strings cesses IS in forms where recesses are equally emhaving their free ends normally s b y ployed, preferably correspond in number to the gaging the serrations of said lever; and a D 11- number of the free ends or free portions of the 20 rality of hook elements on one upper S P string or strings. In the preferred form illustion and adapted o releasably o t S id lever trated, the free ends of the respective strings I5, to hold said strings in tightened positions.

I6 and I! are provided at their termini with metal 2. In a releasable fastening device for a shoe tips 2| which have one or more dimensions greator the like, said shoe having sepa a aDertU-red er than the diameter of apertures or openings Ho pp portions, e Combination o a plurality of and greater than the narrowest breadth of restrings, each of which strings are adapted to cesses is, have their intermediate portions laced through In the preferred form illustrated, these clips the antially aligned holes of the separable are of cylindrical form pressed about the ends of pp r portions of a shoe or the like; a lever havthe respective strings and also each thereof have i n l er l d e hereof serrated and formintegral portions which project away from and ing teeth, the free ends of said strings being transversably from the string itself as clearly ilreleasably engaged in said serrations; and a faslustrated in Fig. 5. While Iillustrate and describe tening element mounted upon the upper portion herein this particular form of metal tips, it is to of a sh e w r y said l r m y be r l as bly be understood that any equivalent enlarged eleanchored in positions to hold said string ends ment secured to the string ends to prevent slipdrawn out and to hold the separable aperture ping out and withdrawal of the string from openupper shoe portions together. ings l9a are within the scope of my invention. 3. In a releasable fastening device for a shoe The grippable movable member l8 illustrated or the like, said shoe having sep p ed in the preferred form is provided at its lower end upp r P s, the combination of a plurality of with a suitable aperture and said normally lower stri g ach of which strings are adapted to end is pivotly connected to the upper portion of have their intermediate portions laced through the shoe at a point preferably forward of the the substantially aligned holes of the separable juncture of the lateral edges Ila and l2a by a pp s po s, a lever av n one lateral suitable rivet 23, which is preferably also roedge r f serrated; metal t p on the ends of vided with reinforcing washer 24. While I have Said S a portion of each d ps projectillustrated the movable lever 18 in the preferred transversablythereof said transversably proform as being mounted upon the exterior of the J'eeting portions of said tips being releasably shoe or other protection unit, the same may also anchorable in said lever serrations; and a fasbe mounted for movement along the inner surface tening element mounted on said shoe adapted of the shoe, or between an inner wall or lining and t0 releasably ge Said lever to hold the same an outer wall, and if desired the grippable porin g e d po t ontion may project for convenient gripping. At- In a releasable as ening device for a shoe tention is called to the cross sectional view of or the like, said shoe having separable apertured Fig. 4 which shows the upper wall, usually leather, upp r portions, the epmbination Of a plurality of of the forward portion of the shoe ID, the aper- Strmgs, each of wh ch strings are adapted to tured portion of the lever [8, the rivet 23 and the have thell IhtQImeQiIatB P01110115 laced through reinforcing Washer 24. the substantially aligned holes of the separable As shown in Figs 1 and 2 I have provided upper portions of a shoe or the like; a movable pair of spaced apart hook-like fastening elements metal S pmember havmg o e portion 25 which are securely mounted in a conventional normally t ched to the shoe and having spaced manner in the upper portion of the oxford, shoe apart p n t r n, s id strap-like member or other protection unit in vertically spaced apart normally extending ea d y f om the forward positions and in such positions as to permit adportion f h S metal p h the free ends justttble tightening of the string or strings to the of Said St mgs respe y, said tips being desired degree. The fastening elements 25 while adapted to releesablv age said strap member being shown in the preferred form as of the prop nings; wher y sldevvise movement of said J'ee ng ok yp may assume the form of other strap-like member will tighten sa d strings; fasequivalent securing means whereby a movable temng elements on an upper portion of said shoe member to which the strings are releasably for releasably fastening said strap member in deanchored, may be adjustably and releasably sesired position, the movement of said strap memcured in the desired string-tightening position. h r in n hored p si ion being d p e o For example, co-operating male and female fashold such strings in tightened positions. tening elements might equivalently be employed 5. In combination with a shoe or the like havfor securance of the lever inposition. mg pp r portions thereof separable and connectable together; said upper shoe portions each having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough spaced from the opposed edges of said upper, shoe portions; a plurality of strings, each ofs aii d strings being normally laced through two adjacent holes of one of said upper shoe portions and also through two adjacent holes of the other upper shoe portion; a metal lever pivoted at its lower end to the shoe at a point forward of the said separable upper shoe portions and having a plurality of spaced apart recesses formed therein and opening on one edge thereof; the normally free ends of each of said strings releasably engaging said lever recesses respectively whereby pivoting movement of said lever in a transverse direction will cause the separable upper shoe portions to be drawn together; and an anchoring hook element mounted on one of said upper shoe portions and adapted to receive the free end portion of said lever to thereby hold 20 nectable together; said upper shoe portions each having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough spaced from the opposed edges of said upper shoe portions; a plurality of strings, each of said strings being normally laced through two adjacent holes of one of said upper shoe portions and also through two adjacent holes of the other upper shoe portion; a metal lever pivoted at its lower end to the shoe at a point forward of the said separable upper shoe portions and having a plurality of spaced apart recesses formed therein and opening on one edge thereof; the normally free ends of each of said strings releasably engaging said lever recesses respectively whereby pivoting movement of said lever in a transverse direction will cause the separable upper shoe portions to be drawn together; and a plurality of spaced apart anchoring hooks on one of said upper shoe portions adapted to receive the free end portion of said lever whereby said lever and said strings may be held in tightened position.

BRUNO RZEPA. 

